Tag: book launch

Fiction Blog, The Desertera Series

The Tyrant’s Heir (Desertera #3) is Out Now!

Kate M. Colby

The Tyrant's Heir“Launch days” like today always feel a bit weird to me. On the surface, today is just another normal Tuesday. I’m still sitting at my desk, writing product copy about wine (that’s the day job), and answering emails from coworkers.

Yet, today is anything but a normal Tuesday. The Tyrant’s Heir (Desertera #3) has landed in Kindles and reading devices around the world. Reviews have started to roll in on Goodreads. Invisible tendons connect you and me and readers from at least three continents.

Today also brings a feeling of completion. I’ve put the book out into the world. It belongs to you now, as much as it does me. Which means it’s time for me to hang up Lionel’s top hat and get to work on another project … but more on that later.

Pick up your copy of The Tyrant’s Heir TODay:

Order the ebook ($2.99 USD) or paperback ($12.95 USD) from your favorite online retailer: http://www.books2read.com/the-tyrants-heir

Reserve a SIGNED paperback directly from me (via PayPal, $12.95 USD + s/h): https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=P4UWDNF93HRYE

Please note on the signed paperbacks:
1) I DO ship internationally — email me for your custom shipping rate
2) Please expect a 2-3 week shipping delay. I’m currently waiting on the books to arrive so I can sign them!

GET SOCIAL WITH ME

Add The Tyrant’s Heir on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35702226-the-tyrant-s-heir

Watch me unbox the first ever copy on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/AuthorKateMColby/videos

Bring a friend into the fold

If you know someone who would love the Desertera series (or are behind yourself), now is the time to catch up! To celebrate the release of The Tyrant’s Heir, the first two ebooks are on sale until August 15.

Buy The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1) for JUST $0.99 (USD)

Buy The Courtesan’s Avenger (Desertera #2) for JUST $1.99 (USD)

And that’s all she wrote

For now, anyway! Thank you to everyone who has purchased the books, shared on social media, and left a review. Your support means the world to me and allows me to live out my dream. I couldn’t — and wouldn’t want to — do this without you.

Fiction Blog, Writing Updates

Month-End Update: October 2016

Kate M. Colby

With a productive October behind me, I can feel the wintry winds of November nipping at my heels. Despite how much I accomplished in October, I don’t really have much to say about it. The month revolved around finishing up my nonfiction prompts series, which I did, with the writing and publication of 100 Horror Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 10). I also had a great reading month and blazed through quite a few titles on my to-be-read list.

As November begins, I feel like a race horse prancing at the starting gate. It’s NaNoWriMo season, and for some reason, I’ve decided I have time to take on the challenge. I’m out of excuses, and I will finally (with much anxiety and cautious excitement) be returning to the world of fiction with Desertera #3. Wish me luck – and feel free to add me as a writing buddy @KateMColby!

Writing & Editing

  • Blog Posts Written – 7 and one guest post
  • Fiction Words Written – 0
  • # of Days I Wrote Fiction – 0
  • Nonfiction Prompts Written – 100 prompts (plus work on the prompts anthology)
  • # of Days I Wrote Nonfiction – 20
  • Drafts Revised – Proofread of 100 Horror Writing Prompts
  • # of Days I Revised – 1
  • Outlines Written – 1 (upcoming prompts anthology)
  • Days Without Creation/Production – 11

Reading

  • Books Begun/In-Progress

*Remember, I review every book I read on my Goodreads page.

Author Business Activities

Goals for November

  • Participate in and “win” NaNoWriMo 2016
  • Finish and decide on publication date of the prompts anthology
  • (Beta-)read and review books on TBR list

What did you accomplish in October? What goals are you working towards in November? What is your NaNoWriMo project? Share below!

Fiction Blog, Guest Posts

The Theme of Evil in Maledicus: The Investigative Paranormal Society Book I by Charles F. French

Kate M. Colby

Today, I’m excited to introduce my friend and fellow author Charles F. French. Charles is an English professor turned author, who is preparing to launch his debut horror novel Maledicus: The Investigative Paranormal Society Book I. As you can imagine, the theme of evil features heavily throughout the novel, and that’s exactly what he’s here to discuss. Over to Charles.

maledicus-finalThe existence and nature of evil and the human response to it are central themes in my horror novel Maledicus: The Investigative Paranormal Society Book I. This idea is one with which I have been concerned much of my life. From the first Gothic novels I read as a youngster, including Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, through the myriad of reading I have done during the course of my life, including works of classical literature such as William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Hamlet as well as the contemporary thrillers of John Connelly and Tana French, and the numerous novels of the master Stephen King, evil has been present in a wide variety of forms.

I am deeply concerned not only with the nature and existence of evil, both human and supernatural but also with people’s response to it when confronted by evil. Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Unfortunately, it does not take much effort to search human history for occurrences of monstrous evil in the form of too many genocides.  The history of the 20th and 21st centuries is replete with these inhumane situations, and too often, the world turned its collective gaze away from these horrors, often until it was almost too late to do anything about them.

Ordinary people, as well as nations and larger collectives of persons, are also confronted with evil in their existences. When a person witnesses a terrible event, he or she must decide either to do nothing and leave the responsibility of action to others, or they chose to act directly at the potential risk of their safety or lives. They must decide either—“I don’t want to get involved,” or “I must do something.”

This moral and ethical dilemma is what the three older men who form the basis of The Investigative Paranormal Society face.

maledicusteeIn my novel, I posit evil existing in two forms. First, human evil manifests as a man who was a sadistic psychopath—a torturer, spy, pimp, and murderer—who lived during the realm of Caligula in ancient Rome. Supernatural evil also is real in my book.  In death, this man, who goes by the name of Maledicus, is seduced by a mysterious being into becoming a demon. As a new form of existence, Maledicus is able to manifest on Earth and target people for his victims. He causes mayhem, including murder, suicide, insanity, and disease.

While investigating what they believe to be a ghostly haunting, the three men who are the Investigative Paranormal Society—Roosevelt, Sam, and Jeremy—soon realize that this malicious thing that is threatening a five year old girl in their town, is far worse and more dangerous than any ghost.

They must choose either to abandon their investigation and this child or to choose to battle this demon at the risk of their sanities, their lives, and their souls. These men, along with the help of several friends, choose the path of responsibility as they confront the terrible demon Maledicus.

I hope that, in my novel, I deal effectively and thoroughly with this issue of evil and the human response to it.  Only the readers can truly make that judgement.

Thanks so much for sharing Maledicus with us, Charles! If you’d like to read Maledicus, it’s now available on Amazon. You can also learn more about Charles and his work by visiting his website at https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.wordpress.com. And be sure to come back to this site on Friday, when I’ll be sharing my review of Maledicus!

Fiction Blog, Writing Updates

Month-End Update: September 2016

Kate M. Colby

Goodbye, book launch month! As you likely noticed, September was all about the release of The Courtesan’s Avenger (and, of course, this month’s booklet: 100 Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Writing Prompts). Unfortunately, my fiction book launch dominated the month, and the booklet took up what little time remained. While I’m thrilled to have them both out in the world, I’m even more excited to get back into creation mode. Desertera #3 has been calling my name for weeks now, and it’s about time I answered. Fingers crossed that October can be a strong start leading into November (aka National Novel Writing Month).

One thing that I did manage to make a lot of time for was podcasts. When I first started on my indie publishing journey, I would listen to podcasts all day at work. They helped me get up to speed on the industry and gave me a sense of community in what is an often lonely journey. I’ve really missed listening to them, so making time to do so on my commute (and at the gym – gasp!) has been really refreshing.

On a personal note, my husband and I also took a very bookish anniversary trip to Salem, Massachusetts, in September. I share more about the trip, my inspiration, and a few travel tips in this post. For now, allow me to recap September and get sorted for October.

Writing & Editing

  • Blog Posts Written – 12 and one reblog
  • Fiction Words Written – 0
  • # of Days I Wrote Fiction – 0
  • Nonfiction Prompts Written – 95 prompts
  • # of Days I Wrote Nonfiction – 15
  • Drafts Revised – Final proofread of The Courtesan’s Avenger (Desertera #2)
  • # of Days I Revised – 4
  • Outlines Written –  1 (100 Horror Writing Prompts)
  • Days Without Creation/Production – 7

Reading

  • Books Reviewed on Blog
    • None

*Remember, I review every book I read on my Goodreads page.

Author Business Activities

Goals for October

  • Begin writing Desertera #3
  • Write and publish 100 Horror Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 10)
  • Reflect on one year as a published author and set goals for year two
  • Catch up on my friends’ books and help a few out with special projects

What did you accomplish in September? What goals are you working towards in October? Share below!

Fiction Blog, The Desertera Series, Writing Updates

On Sale Now: The Courtesan’s Avenger (Desertera #2)

Kate M. Colby

perf5.250x8.000.inddAfter over a year of working and waiting, I’m pleased to announce that The Courtesan’s Avenger (Desertera #2) is available in ebook AND paperback formats on all major online retailers.

First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who has helped me get to this point. I couldn’t have published one book, let alone two, without the support of my family, friends, and fellow writers. My readers deserve a special thanks: your encouraging emails, social media shout-outs, and heartwarming reviews are the fuel that keeps my inspiration burning. Thank you joining my journey.

When I published The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1) last year, I thought my heart would burst from panic. Here I was, an unknown and inexperienced author, putting her art out for the world to judge. Publishing my nonfiction booklets has felt significantly less personal (more like writing one of my craft blog posts), so I thought I would be better prepared for this launch. After all, this will be my tenth publication. It’s old hat now, right?

Wrong. I’m still a bundle of nerves and excitement, of dread and hope. I’m not a parent, but I have to imagine that this is what it feels like to send your child off to kindergarten or university. I did the best that I could. Now it’s up to you, little one.

I’ll write a longer reflection post after the book launch buzz simmers down. For now, I’m off to take deep breaths, celebrate, then start book three.

If you haven’t bought your copy of The Courtesan’s Avenger yet, click this link to download it from your favorite retailer.

If you’re waiting on signed paperback copies, stay tuned. I’ll have purchase links available once I have copies to sign.